one in seven Brit women do drugs to lose weight : Survey

London, Oct 16 (UNI) One in seven women in Britain uses narcotic drugs to battle the bulge, revealed a survey.

The survey conducted by UK's leading Now magazine said women do drugs like cocaine or speed in an attempt to quickly shed weight.

Many others take slimming pills or laxatives to try to shed the pounds.

Yet both drug-taking and drastic dieting are largely ineffectual, with the great majority regaining any weight they may have lost within weeks or even days.

Nearly three out of ten women who took part in an internet survey bythe celebrity magazine admitted they had made themselves sick after eating.

It also said one in seven of those responding to the survey claimed they had taken Class A drugs to lose weight.

Experts said last night that women were playing a dangerous game by using drugs to get thin. They warned the glamorous image of cocaine masked health risks such as heart attacks and strokes.

Several dozen deaths are attributed to the use of cocaine and amphetamines every year.

The survey, carried out by online analysts Demographix, found more than eight out of ten of those questioned had dieted.

Medical Director of Weight Concern Dr Ian Campbell was quoted by Daily Mail as saying that it was alarming that women were using illicit drugs in ill-fated slimming attempts.

''There is no evidence that they have any long-term effect on weight but a great deal of evidence that they are harmful to health,'' he said.

''The only long-term solution to weight control is lifestyle changes, including dietary modification and more exercise. There is no substitute for effort,'' he added.

David Raynes of the National Drug Prevention Alliance said cocaine-use could kill and cause facial disfigurement.

''I fear that women are using drugs as an excuse for attempts at slimming, much like women say they smoke in an effort to keep their weight down,'' Mr Raynes said.

UNI